Weekend Rundown on Monday.....

The Gala!!

Our fundraising event was a huge success!!  It was the biggest we've ever had with over 300 people attending, and the Golden Anniversary decorations were tasteful and beautiful.  The silent auction went nicely over budget which is also great.  Joe was feeling good and enjoyed the evening, which made my night!!

 Joe, at home, just before we left for the party.
He needed some help getting buttoned into his finery, and we had a good laugh when he called me "Mr. Bates" as I was helping him get dressed.  Downton Abbey fans will understand.....

Got my nails done for the occasion.  Hopefully, it will last a week or so! 

Joe took this one of me, just before we left.

 Staff members were to arrive early, before the paying guests, so I was able to take some photos before the crowds came.  The one above is where the check-in was. People picked up their bidder numbers and table numbers.


The stage for the band and the dance floor.

 A little elegance in the tents.

 The main bar, also under then tents.

 This was our table and place settings.  The chargers were heavy glass.

Our whole table. The center pieces were cherry blossoms and roses.

Tables set in one of the galleries.

My boss took this picture of us on the red carpet. 

 I took this one of her on the red carpet.

A co-worker took this of us in the room where the "official" Gala photos would be taken.  I'll get ours from the photographer later this coming week. Hope it turned out good.

 One of our table-mates took this of us.

 This was the dessert buffet and coffee bar.

A shot of the crowd.... 

 The most expensive item in the silent auction...a 6 carrot diamond ring, valued at $45,000.  The opening bid was $25,000.  Needless to say, no one bid on this piece of jewelry. It really was beautiful, but I joked that I couldn't afford the insurance for it....

 Another crowd shot....

 .....and another crowd picture.

Before dinner, this table was set up for hors d'oeuvres, then switched to the dessert bar after dinner.

It was a lovely evening and the staff and volunteers did a wonderful job with the decorations, choosing the caterer, the band....everything. It was so great being there and having Joe with me was the absolute best!!

He sees his regular cardiologist this afternoon. I'll be going with him.  He also has two of the therapists coming in this morning. Making progress!

Thanks for your visit!  Hard to believe it is the last day of February already. Peace & hugs.

Sunday Stealing Meme....

Thanks to Kwizgiver for another fun Sunday Stealing!!  Join in the fun HERE.

how are ya today meme

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we try to credit the blog that we stole it from. We also provide a link to the victim's meme in our "Previous Victims" widget. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") Sometimes we edit the original meme, to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, to select the best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from this new meme or recently asked questions from a previously featured meme.
Cheers to all of us thieves!!!

How Are Ya Today Meme

Stolen from: Love me some surveys


1. Okay, here we go. How are ya today?  I'm just fine, thank you.

2. Have you ever been so happy you felt invincible?  I am usually happy but have never felt invincible.

3. Would you ever refer to something as ‘bitter sweet’?  Yes, I have said that before.

4. Is there a person in this world you don’t think you could ever figure out?  More than one!

5. When was the last time you were freaked out?  I can't remember being freaked out, ever.

6. Do you learn from ‘every’ mistake you make?  I hope that I do. I make mistakes frequently and hope I don't repeat them!

7. Do you sometimes think that you’re too nice?  Too trusting most of the time, but not "too nice".

8. Is there something you’re dying to tell someone?  Nope. If it needs to be said, I say it.

9. Do you think you have a unique name?  No... there is nothing unique about Terri.  We are, however, the only D'Orsaneos in our entire county!

10. Do you usually try to find the good in people?  Yes, I think that I do.

11. Do you look back on embarrassing moments and laugh about them?   Yes - might as well laugh!

12. Have you ever laughed just to save yourself from humiliation?  Laughter is the best medicine!

13. What are you doing in 2 hours?  The same thing I'm doing now...watching TV and checking social media.  Add laundry to the mix and you've got my Sunday!

14. What is the last thing you ate?  Breakfast.

15. Do you love your job?  I do love my job and have been there for nearly 19 years!

16. When is the last time you showered?  This morning...I shower every morning.

17. Who is the last person you texted?  A friend in Miami.

18. When is the last time you were in a hospital?  Earlier this month, visiting with my husband who was there for four days.

19. The last time you went out to eat, what did you order?
  Last night, at The Gala. We had filet and lots of other yummy stuff!

20. Do you tend to have a lot of those moments where you forget something that you wanted to say?
  Not a lot of them, but it does happen now and then.

21. How long have you known the last person you text messaged?  Probably 8-10 years. 

22. Will this week be a good one?  Yes, it will. Most weeks are good weeks!

23. Anything happen to you within the past month that made you really happy?  That Joe is okay and recovering well from his stroke! 

24. Do you prefer to take showers at night or in the morning?  Again with the showers?  Morning.

25. Have you been to New York City?  Yes, once a long, long time ago....1970.


Sleeping in after our late night out.  Gala photos will be in my Monday post.  The only thing planned for today is laundry!  Thanks for checking in!  Peace & hugs.

Saturday:9 Good morning, yesterday....

Another Saturday and thanks to Samantha for another Saturday:9!!  Join the fun HERE!

The Times of Your Life

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

 

Saturday 9: The Times of Your Life (1976)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song is all about memories. How far back can you remember?  I have a few memories of when I was four and a few more of when I was five.  What's your earliest memory?  I was four.  Our backyard flooded from too much rain and my tricycle was out in the yard, sitting in 4-5 inches of water.  I wanted my tricycle.  Mom said I had to wait, but Grandma (who was visiting) kicked off her shoes and waded in.  I remember my mom saying "Mother, you will ruin your stockings...".  I don't know how her stockings looked, but I got my tricycle!! Grandmas are like that, I think.  :)

2) The first line is "Good morning, yesterday." What do you remember about yesterday morning?  I remember the alarm going off and wishing it was Saturday.....

3) This song was originally a 60-second jingle, featured in a commercial for Kodak film. Do you ever use film?  Not anymore.  Or are all your pictures digital?  Yes, they are.

4) Who took the most recent photo of you?  I try to stay out of pictures, but it was probably Joe.

5) This week's featured artist, Paul Anka, was born in Canada and enjoyed appearing in a made-for-TV Perry Mason movie with fellow Canadian, Raymond Burr. Do you enjoy courtroom dramas?  Not usually, but I do enjoy the courtroom scenes in "To Kill a Mockingbird".

6) At 15, Anka won a supermarket contest by collecting the most Campbell soup can wrappers. The prize was a trip to New York. Do you enter contests and sweepstakes?  Nope.  Play the lottery?  Joe buys lottery tickets every week. You can't win if you don't play. 

7) This year Paul Anka performed throughout Florida (Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Clearwater and Fort Myers). The Sunshine State is a popular vacation destination. Do you have a favorite spot in Florida?  My own home in Lakeland, FL is first, followed by St. Pete Beach.

8) In 1976, the year this song was on the charts, an earthquake hit China. Have you ever experienced an earthquake?  No, thank goodness!

9) Random question: Do you know CPR?  Yes, I have been certified for years and years.

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

Gala is tonight!!  Thanks for stopping by today!  Peace & hugs.

Friday Foto Friends....

Joe has been having some nausea these past few days and we've been a little concerned about it.  He actually cancelled two of his therapy sessions because of his upset stomach.  We figured it was one of the new medicines, but not knowing which one or what to do about it, we've been waiting for his appointment (this coming Monday) with his cardiologist.  Today, because he cancelled another therapy session, the nurse surprised him with a visit. He took vitals and reviewed the meds and right away knew which one was causing the problem...Digoxin.  He told Joe to not take it the next few days and to ask the cardiologist about it on Monday.  Joe feels better already...and so do I.

I don't really have any new photos to share on this Friday Foto Friends, except for my new top that I bought to wear to Gala this Saturday.

It doesn't even look gold in this picture, but it is gold. There is a shell under the jacket.  It's by Alex and was marked down 75% at Dillards. I only shop sale and clearance racks, so was thrilled about this.  Even marked down it was $55.00.  I'm sure it's left over from holiday apparel.

Here are a couple more photos I don't think I've posted before....

 Our beautiful Lake Morton, with a gathering of water birds.

Our spoiled rotten Vinny.  If he wasn't so cute.....

I will be linking up with Deb HERE if you want to join in on this Friday Meme. Thanks Deb!

Wishing you a good Friday and I thank you for your visit today!  Peace & hugs.

Nothing New Today....

Yesterday's blog was a "throwback" and was also loonnggg.  I'll let today's be short and sweet.

Thanks for being a blessing in my life!  Love & hugs!

It's The Gala Week.....

Joyce has taken this week off, so there is no Hodgepodge. Missing the fun, but I know Joyce only takes off when she is super busy or traveling.  I'll take this opportunity to talk about Gala.

The Museum where I work is gearing up for our biggest fundraiser of the year....The Gala.  It is the premier social event of the year for our county, and we are blessed to have so many committed supporters who dress up and come out year after year.  Gala is always the last Saturday in February.

This is the Museum's 50th birthday year and our Gala has been ramped up to kick-off our anniversary year.  Tickets are $400 each (up from $350 in previous years) ($800 a couple; $4,000 for a table of 10).  As of last Friday, we have 315 tickets sold and an amazing array of silent auction items. The auction helps push us over the top each year, and our patrons are usually very generous.

Department Heads and spouses attend for free. Other staff attend and are fed really well in the conference room.  We are all there to work, though. At the end of the night, I have to start tallying the auction cards, inputting them into the auction software and then we open the doors so people can check out what they purchased and head for home.  So, yes, Joe and I get to enjoy the evening but for the last 90 minutes or so, I am working. But it is fun work and is always a high.  We get to dress up, rub elbows with the area's movers and shakers, and then celebrate a job well done.

Dinner is premier and five star, catered by a company in Tampa (Arthur's Creative Events and Catering). Here are this year's menu choices:

Hors d'oeuvres:  Waygu Beef Short Rib Spring Roll; Lucky Duck; Silky Crab Cup; Pistachio Apricot Latke; Italian Antipasto Display with Tuscan Grilled Shrimp

Salad:  Bibb and Radicchio Salad with grapefruit, orange hearts of palm, dried cranberries, walnuts and tangerine vinegrette

Plated Entree:  Chimichurri Crusted Rack of Lamb with Moroccan spiced carrot puree, mint, feta, ancient grain pilaf, pine nut and thyme;  Grilled Filet of Beef, with rosemary cocoa demi-glace, peruvian purple and sweet potato gratin and romanesco puree;  Seared Citrus Cobia, with toasted coconut tuxedo rice, red Thai curry broth and brussel sprout petals; Asparagas Crespelle, with bechamel, marinara, ancient grain pilaf, pine nut, thyme Moroccan spiced carrot puree, mint and feta

(Joe and I will have the Grilled Filet of Beef.)

Plated Desserts:  Chocolate Cremeux, graham cracker crumbs, Earl Grey whipped cream, pepitas and honey praline cream

Celebration of Sweetness Buffet:  Mexican Hot Chocolate Shots with Mini CHurros; Caramel Pralines Brownies; Strawberry Cupcakes; Lime Thyme Tarts

Gourmet Coffee Station and Assorted Teas

I was looking through old Gala pictures at work, stored on our server, all the way back to 2001. I found out I wore the same outfit twice, three different years. More recently, I try to have a new top to wear with one of my two long black dressier skirts.  Here is a short look-back....

 Gala 2010 (I am drinking club soda & lime - FYI)

 Gala 2011 (Tropical theme)

Gala 2012...couldn't find one of Joe and me. This is the Museum staff photo and I am in the back row (of course) so you can't see my outfit.  We're a nice looking bunch though! :)

 Gala 2013 (yes, same blouse as 2010)

Gala 2014 (selfie at home)

Gala 2015

I have a gold top to wear this year, for the Golden Anniversary.  I think I'll get a manicure and some gold polish, too. Pictures will follow!!  This once a year event is fun, but I am not the dress-up fussy type.  Jeans and a hotdog on the grill is the much more comfortable me.

Thanks for checking in! I always appreciate friends stopping by.  Peace & hugs.

Tuesday Tidbits.....

Well, Joe's brother Lou sent these to me by email.  I am not old enough to remember these, but thought they were interesting enough to share with you.  Some are just hilarious while others are really kind of sad (or a lot sad).  Times have sure changed for the better!!  Make note of the one that says 'you will get more dates if you gain 10 pounds' !!! LOL

Advertisements of Yesteryear....
(These were real ads.)



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Thanks, always, for your visit to my blog!  Peace & hugs.